Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the central equine database in reducing horse abandonment to date.

The Central Equine Database (CED) was launched on 8 March 2018. At this early stage, data is not available to make a formal assessment of its effectiveness in reducing horse abandonment. Defra laid the Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 on 25 June. The regulations provide modern, effective enforcement tools to local authorities that, in combination with the CED and the powers under the Control of Horses Act 2015 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, will help address the problem of horse abandonment.

Furthermore, the regulations require that all equines in England are microchipped by 1 October 2020, except for recognised populations of semi-wild ponies. This will further help local authorities and the police to track down the owners of abandoned horses and make sure appropriate action is taken against them, and ensure their equines are given the care they deserve.